Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

I welcome the Minister.

On balance, we should ban politics altogether, and then we would not have any of these difficulties. I would love to be able to say "Let us ban corporate donations". It is the easiest and simplest solution. However, I do not think it would work in practice. That is the problem we face. With our urge for transparency pushing us towards an approach of zero corporate donations, we will end up, ironically, with less transparency, because corporations, as we know, work very hard to achieve something if they are determined to achieve it. They employ accountants and lawyers to manoeuvre themselves around corporate law and all kinds of other things so that they can do what they wish to do. Business is business. In this case, if a corporation is determined to make some type of donation to an individual or a party, it will find a way if we ban all donations. Having a small donation of €200 makes it more transparent. One is seen to give the €200 and one is limited to that amount. Given the way humanity is, my fear is that if we are not allowed to do something, we will find another route to do it. We all know what happened during Prohibition. Ironically, there will be more transparency if we reduce the amount and acknowledge that one is allowed to give that amount. There will still be the squirming and re-routing of support for a person or a party but that will be reduced if one is allowed to make a small donation. I realise this is one of those turning logic on its head moments but, having thought about it for a long time, I believe a total ban will cause more harm.